The reports fail to shed light on why the authorities failed to prevent Hamilton's gun licence being renewed, or his alleged links to the Masonic movement.

Mr Boyd said there was some editing of the documents released to the public to protect children mentioned in them.

Privacy issue

Thomas Hamilton broke into Dunblane Primary School on 13 March, 1996 and opened fire on a class in the gym, killing 16 children and a teacher.

In addition to those killed, he injured 12 other children and two teachers before killing himself.

The documents, which date from 1988 to 1993, include a report to the procurator fiscal about Hamilton's earlier involvement in a children's camp.

The Crown Office denied the ban was imposed to conceal links between Hamilton and a number of prominent Scots.

Colin Boyd spoke of "exceptional circumstances"

Instead it said it was designed to protect the identities of children involved.

In a statement the lord advocate said none of the reports contained allegations against politicians or other prominent figures.

"Given the sensitive nature of much of the material, which might cause anguish to those involved, my prime concern in considering this request has been to ensure that the privacy of those children referred to in the report
should be maintained," he said.

One document details a complaint by a parent whose child attended a youth club at Stirling High School.

The parent, whose name was blanked out, made the complaint in July 1993 and claimed their child had been set to attend football coaching run by Hamilton.

'Questionable circumstances'

But it was subsequently discovered the boy had been made to wear a tight gym costume and carry out gymnastics while photographs were taken of him.

The police report raised concerns that Hamilton "induces certain children to dress in very tight, ill fitting tunics which he provides for them outwith the knowledge of parents" and took photographs of them in "questionable circumstances".

It also stated Hamilton had been reported to the procurator fiscal on two occasions over his behaviour to children, but it is not clear what happened to those cases.